First Presidency Emphasizes Temple Worthiness, Family Home Evening

The following letters from the First Presidency have been read to members in sacrament meetings.

Temple Worthiness and Temple Attendance

“We desire that more members of the Church do whatever is necessary to receive or renew their temple covenants and blessings.

“Many of our adult brethren and sisters have not yet been endowed. Still others have been endowed but have not returned to the House of the Lord for many years. Some of our otherwise active members are lax in their attendance at the temple.

“The restored gospel focuses on the ordinances of the Holy Temple as an essential step toward eternal life. As more members of the Church attend the temple, they and their families will enjoy needed blessings.

“We request that stake and mission presidents, bishops, and branch presidents urge all adult members to qualify for a temple recommend even if no temple is immediately available to them.”

Family Home Evening

“When family home evenings were first introduced as an official program of the Church, the First Presidency said, ‘If the Saints obey this counsel [to hold family home evenings], we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them.’ We reaffirm the promised blessings to those who faithfully hold family home evenings.

“Monday evenings should be reserved for family home evening. Local leaders should ensure that Church buildings and facilities are closed, that no ward or stake activities are planned for Monday evenings, and that other interruptions to family home evenings be avoided.

“The primary emphasis of family home evening should be for families to be together to study the gospel. We remind all that the Lord has admonished parents to teach their children the gospel, to pray, and to observe the Sabbath Day. The scriptures are the most important resource for teaching the gospel. Other resources include the Family Home Evening Resource Book, general conference addresses, Church magazines, the Church News, Church videocassettes, and other appropriate family-oriented material.

“We encourage priesthood and auxiliary leaders to discuss this matter in ward and stake council meetings after this letter has been read in a sacrament meeting.

“May the Lord bless you in attending to this important matter.”